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Why NDIME was created
Why NDIME was created
National Dual Immersion Mandarin Education (NDIME) was established to address a critical gap in early childhood education: the shortage of qualified bilingual educators during the most formative years of language and brain development.
NDIME was founded based on years of hands-on experience operating bilingual early childhood programs and working directly with children, families, and educators. Through this work, it became clear that while dual-language initiatives have expanded in K–12 education, early childhood—particularly ages 0–8—has remained significantly under-supported, despite strong research showing that earlier exposure leads to stronger and more equitable outcomes.
Before NDIME was formally established, its founding leadership invested substantial time and resources into recruiting, supporting, and developing bilingual educators, navigating complex systems involving teacher preparation, cultural exchange, immigration pathways, and compliance. These efforts revealed that the challenges were not isolated to individual programs, but rooted in broader system-level barriers.
NDIME was created to respond at that systems level—serving as a backbone organization and community hub that connects educators, families, community partners, and institutions to strengthen early childhood dual immersion education. Through training, partnerships, and workforce development initiatives, NDIME works to expand access, build capacity, and support sustainable pathways for bilingual educators.
Although NDIME is newly established as a nonprofit organization, its leadership brings long-standing commitment and expertise to this field. Claire Chou, President of NDIME, has been engaged in advancing early childhood bilingual education since 2017, bringing practice-based insight, cross-sector collaboration, and a deep understanding of community needs to the organization’s work.
NDIME exists to transform lived experience into scalable solutions—ensuring that high-quality dual immersion education begins not in kindergarten, but at the very start of a child’s learning journey
Our Mission
Our Mission
National Dual Immersion Mandarin Education has been organized to provide training for teachers on how to teach both English and Mandarin in an immersive style to children from infancy to eight years old. Therefore, the organization qualifies for educational purposes under IRC Section 501(c)(3), which covers the instruction or training of individuals to improve or develop their capabilities.
Our Core Values
Our Core Values
Nurture Growth - We foster continuous growth for educators and children, supporting curiosity, lifelong learning, and professional development rooted in encouragement and care.
Dedication to Excellence - We commit to the highest standards in teacher preparation, instructional quality, and bilingual education practices to ensure meaningful, measurable impact.
Inclusion & Cultural Integrity - We embrace diversity, honor cultural heritage, and ensure that every educator feels seen, valued, and empowered to create inclusive learning environments.
Mission-Driven Innovation - We develop forward-thinking, evidence-based teaching strategies that elevate Mandarin immersion and strengthen early childhood education.
Empowerment Through Education - We empower teachers with the skills, confidence, and community they need to transform classrooms, enrich families, and shape future generations.
Meet Our President
Meet Our President
Claire Chou is a versatile educator, leader, and advocate for bilingual education. With expertise in early childhood learning, Mandarin instruction, and cross-cultural collaboration, she founded NDIME to empower educators, promote dual-language immersion, and ensure high-quality Mandarin and English education for children ages 0–8 across Southern California.
Claire Chou
President of NDIME
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